Pour spout attachment for packages

ABSTRACT

A pour spout ( 20 ) for a package ( 10 ) of flowable product which is attached to a side wall ( 11 ) of the package ( 10 ) therein. The pour spout has pleated sides ( 39, 40 ) and is hinted to the package ( 10 ) at its base ( 29 ). The pour spout is heat scaled to the package. If the package is paper, a polymeric gasket ( 50 ) is placed inside the package ( 10 ). An overseal ( 55 ) is positioned over the spout. Pressure-sensitive adhesive and hook and loop fasteners ( 58 ) can be used lo reseal the package.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to pour spouts for plastic or paperpackages, either single or multi-ply. The invention also relates to areclosable pour spout for bagged products. The invention further relatesto a packages having a reclosable pour spout.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Many foods, particularly pet foods, e.g., dog and cat foods, arepacked in large bangs, i.e., 2-40 pound packages. These are difficult toopen and also difficult to reclose. The reclosure is important becausethese foods contain fat which tends to oxidize on exposure to the airwith resultant change in flavor which may make it unpalatable to pets.

[0003] Attaching a pour spout to these packages is difficult because thebags often are paper with laminations of plastic to keep the fat in theproduct from emigrating to the outer surface of the bag and discoloringthe surface with a grease stain. Once an opening is cut in the bag forthe spout, the edges of the lamination are exposed to the product whichis not acceptable. In these situations, it is necessary to apply a backseal to the spout opening in the package in addition to attaching thespout to the outside of the package.

[0004] Other such packages are multi-ply plastic with a moisture and fatimpervious layer or single ply plastic. In these situations the spoutmust have a high temperature resistant outer layer and a thermoplasticsealing layer around the edges to allow heat sealing the spout to thebag around the opening formed in the bag.

[0005] Presently there are various methods to open bagged products. Oneof these is merely tearing or pulling apart the top of the bag. Thisapproach is both crude and sometimes very difficult. Another method ofopening a sealed bag is to cut across the top of the bag. This approachcan be dangerous as it requires a sharp instrument. Some packages have astring sewn across the top of the bag or a string embedded in the topseam, across the top of the bag. These approaches too can be difficultand frustrating to open.

[0006] Once opened, products that are capable of flowing can be pouredfrom the tops of any of these bags. Control of the flow rate is limitedand cumbersome because of the large opening across the entire top of thepackage.

[0007] All of these packages also have re closing problems, depending onthe material from which the bag is constructed. For example, multiplypaper bags are usually reclosed by rolling or folding down the top ofthe bag. This method does not provide a very tight or effectivereclosure.

[0008] Most poly (plastic) bags are reclosed by folding down or rollingdown the top of the bag. Like paper, this method does not provide a verytight or effective reclosure because poly has a very weak memory.Therefore, the rolled or folded reclosure tends to open. Recentdevelopments have made zipper type reclosure features available for polybags. This added feature has greatly improved the tightness of thereclosure. Another popular type of bag is a laminated package usingpolyester in combination with a variety of polyethylene options. Zippersare commonly used for reclosure. Without the zipper, the bag is subjectto the same problems as reclosing the poly bag.

[0009] Zippers are generally applied across the entire face of the bag.This construction makes it difficult for the consumer to achieve a tightreclose of the zipper across the entire width of the bag. The locationand size of the zipper are not designed for or conductive to the pouringof product from the bag. In addition, the product can contaminate thezipper preventing reclosure. Also, zippers are not available forreclosing multi-ply paper bags.

[0010] Thus, it is a principal object of this invention to provide apour spout which can be attached to packaged products to facilitateopening the packages and pouring the products therefrom. It also is aprincipal object to provide a pour spout for bagged products which iseasy to open and also is reclosable to reseal the contents of the bagfrom exposure to the atmosphere. A further object is to provide pourspout attachments which can be applied to plastic and paper cartons orbags, either single or multi-ply. Still another object, is to provide apour spout having accordion pleated sides and hinged at one end to apackage and movable from a closed to an open position for pouring andreturnable to a closed position adjacent to the package where it can befastened in said closed position. Still a further object is to providebags having reclosable pour spouts attached thereto.

[0011] These and other objects and advantages will become apparenthereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention comprises a pour spout hinged to a wall ofa plastic or paper package such that it is opened to allow product to bepoured from the package and when closed can be locked against the wallto seal the pour spout opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The objects of the invention are achieved as set forth in theillustrative embodiments shown in the drawings which form a part of thespecification and wherein like numerals refer to like parts whereverthey occur.

[0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bag having the pour spout ofthis invention attached thereto;

[0015]FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the end of a gusseted bag havinga pour spout opening formed therein;

[0016]FIG. 2a is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 2 a-2 aof FIG. 2;

[0017]FIG. 3 is a plan view of a pour spout blank;

[0018]FIG. 3a is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 3 a-3 aof FIG. 3;

[0019]FIG. 4 is a plan view of the pour spout of FIG. 3 in foldedcondition;

[0020]FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the end of a bag showing the pourspout attached;

[0021]FIG. 6 is a elevational view of a bag side similar to FIG. 2showing a gasket attached to an opening in a paper bag;

[0022]FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view showing a modification of themeans for reseating the pour spout opening; and

[0023]FIG. 8 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a modificationof the invention.

[0024] The following detailed description illustrates the invention byway of example and not by way of limitation. This description willclearly enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, anddescribes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives anduses of the invention, including what we presently believe is the bestmode of carrying out the invention. As various changes could be made inthe above constructions without departing from the scope of theinvention, it is intended that all matter contained in the abovedescription or shown in the accompanying, drawings shall be interpretedas illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0025]FIG. 1 shows a package, namely a bag 10, having gusset ends 11, afront panel 12, a bottom 13 and a double roll fold material corner top14. A pour spout assembly 20 of this invention is applied to one gussetend 11. The pour spout 20 is shown in open or pouring position and ismovable to closed position as shown by the arrow “A”.

[0026]FIG. 2 shows the bag 10 prior to application of the pour spoutassembly 20. The bag 10 has an opening 15 preferably formed in one ofthe side gussets 11. The opening 15 can be in the front or back wall ofthe bag 10, if desired. The opening 15 is formed in the bag 10 duringits manufacture prior to filling product into the bag 10. The opening 15is used as an outlet for the product contained in the bag 10, after thepour spout assembly 20 has been attached to the bag 10.

[0027]FIG. 3 shows the blank 21 which forms the pour spout assembly 20.The blank 21 has a top edge 22, side edges 23,24 and a bottom edge 25which define a rectangular body area 26. Adjacent to and spaced inwardlyfrom the side edges 23, 24 are vertical permanent bond areas 27,28 whichextend from the top edge 22 to the bottom edge 25. Adjacent to thebottom edge is a horizontal permanent bond area 29 which extends alongthe bottom edge 25 and inwardly therefrom into the blank body 26. Whilewe have referred to areas 27,28,29 as permanent bond areas, practicallythe entire surfaces of the spout blank are of heat sealable material.Strip coating of the areas 27,28,29 can be used, however, this increasesthe cost and requires registering the cut with the coating duringmanufacture of the spout.

[0028] The body blank 26 preferably is a lamination as shown in FIG. 3a.The outer layers 30,31 are moisture and oil impervious polyethylene andthe center layer 32 is a paper or a paper aluminum foil composite. Thelayer 32 preferably is 20-50# kraft paper, but can be any material whichwill accept folding and remain in folded condition. The layers 30,31preferably are high density polyethylene. The blank 26 could be onepiece provided the material is moisture and oil impervious and also willretain folds.

[0029] Vertical inside fold lines 35,36 are positioned in the blank body26 equidistantly spaced from the vertical centerline and parallel to theside edges 23,24.

[0030] The inside fold lines 35,36 along with an inside bond edge 37define a back wall panel 38 which forms the pour spout back wall.

[0031] Between the inside fold line 35 and the permanent bond area 27are a series of equally spaced vertical fold lines 39. Between theinside fold line 36 and the permanent bond area 28 are a series ofequally spaced vertical fold lines 40. The fold lines 39 define a seriesof side wall gusset panels 39 a-39 f. The fold lines 40 define a seriesof side wall gusset panels 40 a-40 f. The gusset panels 39 a-39 f havebottom areas 41 a-41 f which form a part of the horizontal permanentbond area 29 and are coated with a heat sealable adhesive. The gussetpanels 40 a-40 f have a series of bottom areas 42 a-42 f which form partof the permanent bond area 29 and are coated with a heat sealableadhesive.

[0032] Depending from the top edge 22 of the back wall 38, is arectangular flap 45 which can be used to open the pour spout and toreclose it as will be explained hereinafter.

[0033] In forming the pour spout 20 from the blank 26, the blank 26 isdie cut and folded along the lines 39,40. The pleated sides are formedby adhering the areas 41 a to 41 b; the areas 41 c to 41 d; the areas 41e to 41 f; the areas 42 a to 42 b; the areas 42 c to 42 d; and the areas42 e to 42 f.

[0034]FIG. 4 shows the blank 21 formed into the pour spout assembly 20.It is this assembly 20 which is positioned over the side panel opening15.

[0035]FIG. 5 shows the pour spout assembly 20 secured to the side panelopening 15. In this construction, the areas 27,28,29 are permanentlybonded to the bag gusset end 11, preferably by heat sealing This sealsthe bottom and side edges of the pour spout assembly 20. The top edgecan be secured by removable tear seals 43; or in the alternative, thetop edge can merely be held tightly by an overseal or tamperevident/product freshness overseal 55.

[0036] The overseal 55 is sealed around its periphery to the bag 10 by aremovable adhesive strip 56. A removal tab 57 is not glued to the bag 10and is used to pull the overseal 55 open. The overseal 55 also can befabricated to be used to reclose and reseal the pour spout 20 as will beexplained hereinafter. The tear seals 43 are of less width than theseals 27,28 and consequently are easier to tear open to release the pourspout 20. The tear seals 43 preferably are used in combination with thetamper evident overseal 55.

[0037] Another method of resealing the pour spout is to place a strip oftwo-sided tape 46 on the bag 10 above the opening 15. One side of thetape 46 is permanently secured to the bag 10. The other side of the tape46 has a release strip 47 covering a sticky pressure-sensitive adhesivesurface. After the pour spout 20 is opened, the release strip 47 can beremoved and the flap 45 is resealed to the top surface of the tape 46 bypressing it against the tape 46. To open the pour spout 20, the flap isdetached from the tape 46.

[0038] As noted, to reclose the pour spout 20, the flap 45 is secured tothe gusset end 11 by engagement with the pressure-sensitive tape 46which is attached to the bag end 11. The side wall gusset panels 41 ofthe pour spout 20 are folded together when the assembly is in closed,non-pouring condition and are held thereto by the adhesive of the flap45 to the tape 46.

[0039] Preferably, the pour spout 20 is attached to the bag 10 when thebag is fabricated at the bag plant. However, it also can be attached atthe user's plant before the bag is assembled or filled.

[0040] To activate the pour spout 20 after the overseal 55 is removed,the top edge seal 43 is opened and the flap 45 and back wall panel 38are pivoted outwardly and downwardly to expose the opening 15 to theinside of the bag 10. The contents of the bag 10 can be poured out ofthe pour spout assembly 20.

[0041] To reclose the bag 10, the flap 45 is reengaged to thepressure-sensitive side of the strip 46.

[0042] Another method for resealing is to make the overseal 55 from apressure-sensitive material. This provides a three-sided re-seal for theconsumer, namely, the top and two sides. The overseal 55 will bepermanently attached to the outside face of the spout back wall 38 andto the bag along the bottom edge 25.

[0043] Another method for resealing is shown in FIG. 7 and involves theuse of a hook and loop fastener strip 58 sold under the trademarkVELCRO. The loop portion of the strip is attached to the bag 10. Thehook portion of the strip is attached to the spout tab 45. The hookportion is on the bag to prevent contamination when pouring the product.

[0044] The pour spout constructions shown in FIG. 1-5 are adaptable toboth polymeric and paper bags. However, the manufacturing techniques formaking a bag and pour spout combination are different for a paper bagand for a polymeric bag.

[0045] In manufacturing the bag 10 and pour spout assembly 20 when thebag is polymeric, the bag 10 has the cut out 15 formed in the sidegusset 11, and the folded pour spout assembly 20 is attached around theopening 15 by activating the permanent bonds 27,28,29 and attaching theremovable seal 43 or the overseal 25.

[0046] When the bag is paper, the edges of the cut out 15 must be sealedfrom contact with the contents of the package because the product in thebags can contain oils that might wick. The opening cut into the bagexposes raw edges of the paper to the product. To seal off these edges,a gasket 50 is heat sealed to the inside of the bag 10 around theopening 15. The inner margin 51 of the gasket 50 extends into theopening 15 around the periphery. This is shown in FIG. 6. The pour spoutassembly then is heat sealed both to the outside of the bag around theopening 15 and to the gasket margin 51, thus effectively isolating theedges of the opening 15. The remainder of the assembly is similar tothat hereinbefore described.

[0047]FIG. 8 shows another modification of the invention in which thepour spout 20 is mounted on the inside of the bag 10. This provides amore eye appealing attachment, but practically some of the outer plymaterial on packages is very difficult, if not impossible to seal to.The inside of a package typically is heat sealable.

[0048] In fabricating the inside attachment, the tab 45 is foldeddownwardly along the line 22 to fit the spout 20 through the packageopening 15. The edges 27,28,29 are heat sealed to the inside of thepackage 10. The tab 45 can be left in folded position or unfolded andsealed against the outside of the package 10 to seal the top of theopening 15.

[0049] The invention has been disclosed specifically applied to the sidegusset of a bag. However, it can be applied to a front or back wall of abag or to a rigid or semi-rigid carton. These containers or packages canbe of any shape or size that a consumer would lift and pour. While theinvention is preferably applied to packages containing dry particulateproduct, the accordion pleated spout can be applied to packagescontaining liquid product.

[0050] Thus it is seen that the present invention achieves all of theobjects and advantages sought therefore and this invention is intendedto cover all changes and modifications of the example of the inventionherein chosen for purposes of the disclosure which do not constitutedepartures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

1. In a package adapted to contain flowable product, the improvementcomprising a pour spout positioned over an opening in a wall of thepackage, the pour spout being movable from a closed position adjacent tothe package to an open position depending from said package andcomprising (a) a back wall hingedly attached to the package at thebottom edge adjacent to said opening, (b) foldable side panelsconnecting the side edges of the back wall to the package adjacent tosaid opening, said side panels having gussets forming accordion pleatswhen in closed position, and (c) means for sealing the opening when thepour spout is closed prior to opening the package.
 2. The combination ofclaim 1 including a removable tamper evident overseal attached to thepackage over the pour spout and removable to give access to the pourspout.
 3. The combination of claim 1 including a tab extending outwardlyfrom the top edge of the pour spout back wall and overlying the outersurface of the package, wherein the tab has a tearable heat sealenclosing the top edge of the package opening.
 4. The combination ofclaim 1 wherein the pour spout is reclosable after use.
 5. Thecombination of claim 1 wherein the package has a polymeric outer surfaceand the pour spout is heat sealed to the outer surface of the packagearound the bottom and sides of the opening.
 6. The combination of claim1 wherein the package has a polymeric inner surface and the pour spoutis heat sealed to said inner surface around the bottom and sides of saidopening.
 7. The construction of claim 1 including a polymeric gasketpositioned inside the package around the opening and having a portionwhich extends into the opening around the edges thereof, the gasketbeing heat sealed to the package, the pour spout being heat sealed tothe outside of the package around the opening and also sealed to theportion of the gasket which extends into the opening to effectively sealthe edge of the opening from contact with the contents of the package.8. The construction of claim 4 including a tab extending outwardly fromthe top edge of the pour spout back wall, a two-sided pressure sensitivereclosure strip having one side permanently attached to the package anda pressure sensitive adhesive positioned on the opposed side, and arelease strip protecting the pressure sensitive tape, whereby removal ofthe release strip allows the spout to be resealed by contacting andengaging the pressure sensitive tape with the tab extending outwardlyfrom the top edge of the pour spout back wall.
 9. The construction ofclaim 2 wherein the overseal is attached to the outer surface of thepour spout and has a pressure sensitive area around the spout whereby itcan be resealed to the package over the spout.
 10. The construction ofclaim 9 wherein the overseal is permanently fixed to the package alongthe bottom edge of the spout back wall and the pressure sensitive areasare positioned on the overseal to reseal around the top and side edgesof the spout back.
 11. The construction of claim 4 including a loop andhook fastener on the package and the top edge of the pour spout, theloop portion of the fastener being on the package and the hook portionbeing on the pour spout.
 12. The construction of claim 1 including aremovable seal on the top edge of the pour spout for sealing by engagingthe pour spout top edge to the package.
 13. The construction of claim 12including a tamper evident overseal attached to the package over thepour spout and removable to give access to the pour spout.
 14. A methodof attaching a pour spout to a package including the steps of: a)forming an opening in a wall of a package, b) forming a pour spouthaving a back wall with top, bottom and side edges, folding side wallsconnected to the side edges of the back wall, and margins around thebottom of the back wall and the free ends of the side walls, c)attaching the pour spout to the package and sealing the margins aroundthe sides and bottom of the bag opening, and d) sealing the top of thebag opening to the pour spout with a tearable seal.
 15. The method ofclaim 14 including the step of applying a removable overseal to the bagover the pour spout.
 16. The method of claim 14 including the steps ofapplying a gasket to the inside of the package such that a portionextends into the opening around the edges thereof, and sealing the spoutmargins to the gasket portions in the opening to seal the edges of theopening.